Can body testing machine



Sept. 3, 1935.

w. CAMERON 2,013,402

CAN BODY TESTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 1].,' 1929 11 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 3, 1935.

W. CAMERON CAN BODY TESTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 11, 1929 ll Sheets-Sheet 2 Se t. 3, 1935. w. CAMERON 2,013,402

CAN BODY TESTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 11, 1929 11 Sheets-Sheet 4 775551665 v I I 7 2 0155 Cia 'r'on p 1935- w. CAMERON 2,013,402

CAN BODY TESTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 11, 1929 ll Sheets-Sheet 5 w. CAMERON 2,013,402

'CAN BODY TESTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 11, 1929 11 Sheets-Sheet 6 Sept. 3, 1935. w CAMERON I 2,013,402

CAN BODY TESTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 11, i929 11 Sheets-Sheet '7 Sept. 3, 1935. I w A N I 2,013,402

CAN BODY TESTING MACHINE 11 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Jan. 11, 1929 I l l Sept. 3, 1935- w. CAMERON I CAN BODY TESTING MACHINE l1 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed Jan. 11, 1929 mmN .Zfauewr Sept. 3, 1935. w. CAMERON 2,013,402

CAN BODY TESTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 11, 1929 ll Sheets-Sheetl0 Y" I 'I'I/ 165 202 /////////////1///4n/,.//// TZRCJGVZZIOT" 164204 205 wilzam Camerorz p 1935- I w. CAMERON 2,013,402

CAN BODY TESTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 11, 1929 11 Sheets-She et 11 Patented Sept. 3, 1935 PATENT OFFICE Y CAN BODY TESTING MACHINE William Cameron, Chicago,- Ill., assignor to Cameron Can Machinery 00., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application January 11,1929, Serial No. 331,845

30 Claims.

the bodies are leak-proof.

Can bodies have heretofore been tested by applying either air pressure or ayacuum to the interior thereof, and the fall in pressure or vacuum as the case might be, resulting-from a leaky body was utilized to actuate mechanism for separating the leaky body from the good bodies.

In testing can bodies by either of the methods just referred to, the production of a pressure or a vacuum in the bodies, sufficiently above or below atmospheric pressure to cause the selecting mechanism to operate as the result of a slight leak was not only expensive, but required an appreciable length of time for its production. Furthermore, the expense and the time increment increased proportionately with the increase in the size of the bodies being tested.

One of the primary purposes of my present invention is to eliminate the expense of producing a .high pressure or a high vacuum on the inside of the can bodies as well as the time increment involved in producing high pressures or vacuums, particularly in large bodies, and thereby ,to minimize the cost of testing and to very materially increase the testing speed.

Another object is to insure maximum accuracy in testing so that the slightest leak will be readily detected and the defective body will be separated from the perfect bodies.

It being obvious that the larger the volume of the inclosed space to which the pressure or vacuum is applied the longer time will be required to materially reduce such pressure or a vacuum through a small leak in a body, my invention contemplates the elimination of this factor and the reduction of the space or volume subjected to the pressure differential to a minimum by introducing the bodies to be tested into correspondingly,

shaped receptacles of only slightly larger volume than the bodies, and applying the pressure to the restricted space within the receptacle around the outside of the body. The volume of this space is relatively quite small in comparison with the volume of the body itself; consequentlymuch less air is required to establish a pressure differential within this space than would be required to establish the same differential within the body itself and a correspondingly less time will be required to produce a predetermined'pressure reduction through a leak opening of 'a small size.

In order to establish the requisite pressure differential without the necessity of the employment of high air pressures, my invention further contemplates the production of a pressure surrounding the body to be tested, and the simultaneous production of a partial vacuum within the body, with the result that neither a high pressure nor a high vacuum are required to establish the desired differential pressure between the inside and the outside of the body.

Another feature of my invention resides in the fact that the small volume of the space subjected to pressure around the can body being tested enables a small leak to be quickly and accurately detected, because a small leak from a small space under pressure will quickly result in a reduction of the-pressure sufiicient to set in operation the mechanism for selecting and separating the leaky can from the others, whereas the same leak from a large space under pressure would not in the same length of time result in a corresponding decrease in pressure. The time required for testing each body is therefore materially reduced, enabling the speed of the machine to be correspondingly increased.

Other objects of my. invention are the production of a testing machine which can be manufachired at a reasonable cost, one which will be accurate and reliable as well as durable in operation,. one which will accurately test can bodies at an extremely high speed and which can be operated at a relatively low cost.

Other objects and many of the inherent advantages of my invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the followingdescription when considered in connection with the accompanying draw-' mgs. Referring to the drawings: Fig. 1 is a side elevation looking toward the right in Fig. 3 of a machine embodying my invention, I

Fig. 2 is a side elevation looking toward the opposite side of the machine, Fig; 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 3-4 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3,-

Fig. 5 is ahorizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig; 3, the carrier and'mechanism carried thereby being omitted,

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view of the rear face of the carrier partially broken away to show the air l passages in the web of the turret, I

Fig. '7 is a somewhat diagrammatical elevation of the can body feeding and delivery mechanisms,

Fig. 12 (Sheet 8) is a fragmentary detail viewof one of the gear segments and a cooperating pinion,

Fig. 13 is a horizontal sectional view of the delivery turret head and the selector mechanism associated therewith,

Fig. 14 (Sheet '7) is an end elevation of a portion of the can selector mechanism,

Fig. 15 'is a diagrammatic view showing the selector circuit,

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary plan view of the selector mechanism,

Fig. 17 is a sectional view on the line l9-I9 of Fig. 16,

Fig. 18 is a similar view taken on the line 20-20 of Fig. 16,

Fig. 19 is a sectional view on the line 2I2l of Fig. 13,

Fig. 20 is a sectional view on the line 2222 of Fig. 13,

Fig. 21 is an edge view of one of the selector valve latches shown in Fig. 20,

Fig. 22 (Sheet 10) is a fragmentary sectional view of the feed turret head and driving mechanism therefor, and

Fig. 23 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a selector valve stem, the actuating roller therefor, and a control 'pin in cooperative relation.

Referring now to the drawings more in detail, it will be observed that the machine comprises a base I, on opposite sides of which are mounted a pair of upright standards or frame members 2 and 3 respectively, provided at their respective upper ends with bearings 4 and 5. The bearing 4 carries a stationary tubular sleeve 6 and the bearing carries a stationary sleeve 1, both sleeves being rigidly connected together. by a central hollow shaft 8 having clamping nuts 9 and l I respectively threaded upon its opposite ends, as shown in Fig. 3. The ends of the shaft 8 are closed by suitable plugs l2.

A rotatable carrier in the form of a large disc wheel, indicated generally by reference character I3, is rotatably mounted upon the shaft 8 intermediate its ends, the hub M of the carrier, as will be apparent from Fig. 3, being journalled upon bearing sleeves l5 surrounding the shaft 8. The carrier has fixedly mounted upon its perimeter a large ring gear 16 by which rotation is imparted to the carrier from a pinion l1 fixed upon a countershaft l8 journalled in bearings I9 and 2| supported on the standards 2 and 3 respectively.

The countershaft I8 is driven from the main drive shaft 22 of the machine through a pair of gears 23 and 24, the gear 23 being clutched to the drive shaft by a clutch 25 of any suitable construction, adapted to be actuated by one or more conveniently positioned hand levers 26 connected to the clutch yoke 27 by a link 28, as will be apparent from Figs. 2 and 3.

Power is applied to the drive shaft 22 from an electric motor 29 through a sprocket chain 3| engaging the sprocket pinion 32 on the motor shaft and a driven sprocket wheel 33, loosely mounted on the drive shaft 22 and connected to this shaft through the intermediary of a safety clutch 34 adapted to slip under excessive load.

An air compressor 44 (Fig. 1) mounted upon the side of the machine is driven through a connecting rod 45 from a crank 46 fixed on the shaft 22. The delivery side' of the compressor discharges through a pipe or hose 4'! (Figs. 1 and 3) to the hollow standard 3 which serves as the compressed air storage chamber. A vacuum pump (not shown) induces through the pipe 48 a partial vacuum upon the interior of the standard 2 from which the transmitted vacuum is drawn through the port 49 to the interior of the hollow shaft 8,

The can bodies are delivered ,to the machine .by gravity down an inclined chute 5! (Figs. 4

and 7) the lower end 52 of which is formed semicircular concentric With the star-shaped feeding turret 53 mounted upon the rear end of the shaft 54 (Figs. 4, 5, and 7). This shaft is driven from a gear wheel 55 fixed upon the outer end thereof which in turn meshes with and is driven by a pinion 56 meshing with and driven by a pinion 51 upon the outer end of the countershaft l8. A hand wheel 58 upon this shaft provides means whereby the machine may be turned over by hand.

The can bodies 59 are elevated in separated relation by the feeding turret 53 into alignment with the successive chuck heads mounted upon the carrier wheel by which they are inserted into and withdrawn from their respective testing re ceptacles, as will be explained more in detail hereafter.

The carrier wheel is equipped near its perimeter with a series of, in the present instance, thirtysix testing receptacles 6|, each of slightly greater diameter than the can body 59 which it is designed to accommodate.

Cooperating with each'testing receptacle is a reciprocatory chuck 62 provided with a sealing face 63 of rubber or other similar material adapted to effect an hermetic seal with the edges of the open end of the can body. Each chuck is carried by a hollow stem 64 fixedly mounted on a hollow head 65 in turn carried by a hollow rod 66 mounted for reciprocatory movement in an elongated tubular guide member 61, fixed to the carrier wheel radially inwardly from each testing receptacle 6|. The chucks 62 and the movable supporting means therefor are 'connected together in pairs by a cross head 68 which is reciprocated by a connecting rod 89 attached at its inner end to a crank H fixed upon the outer end of a short shaft 12 journalled in spaced bearings 13 fixedly secured by bolts 14 to the web of the carrier wheel. Each shaft is provided at its inner end with a pinion 15 adapted to mesh at spaced intervals. as shown in Figs. 11 and 12 with segmental racks I6 and 71, to impart a half revolution to the shafts 12 as the shafts are moved by the carrier wheel past the respective racks carried by the stationary spider l8. racks I6 and 17 is slidably mounted on the spider and a buffer spring 19 is interposed between one end of the rack and a fixed abutment member 81 to form a yielding cushion for the rack which absorbs the shock as the pinion impacts the first tooth at the opposite end of the rack.

Each shaft 12 has also fixedly mounted there- Each of the the projecting peripheral flange 83 of the spider I 18, holds the shaft 12 against rotation during the travel of these shafts along the spider except at the times when a half-revolution is im-v parted to the shafts by the racks 18 and 11, and this rotative movement of the shafts is permitted by the depressions 84 and 85 respectively in the flange 83, into each of which an end of the follower 82 enters as .shown in Fig. 12, while the shaft is making its half revolution. The semirevolution of the shaft 12 imparted thereto by the rack 11 is adapted to move the chuck heads 82 as they successively pass the rack from the outer position shown in Fig. 8 to the inner position shown in Fig. 9 and similarly the rack 11 moves the chuck heads in succession from the position shown in Fig. 9 to that shown in Fig. 8 to withdraw the can bodies 59 from their respective testing receptacles 8I.

Vacuum is applied to the can bodies whereby they are held against and in sealed relation to their respective chucks and a partial vacuum is induced in each can body by suction from the vacuum pump which is imposed upon the respective can bodies through the following channels. Referring particularly to Fig. 3, ithas previously been explained that vacuum is induced in the hollow shaft 8 through port 49. This vacuum is transmitted through a radial passage 88 formed through the shaft 8, the surrounding sleeve 8 and the cup-shaped member 81 held against rotation by a pin '88projecting through an arcuate slot 89 in the spider 18 which is fixed to the stationary shaft by bolts 9I. The channel 88 communicates with an annular vacuum chamber 92 formed in the cup-shaped member 81, as shown in Fig. 3. A ring 93 is secured by bolts 94 to the web of the carrier so as to rotatetherewith, and is. provided. with a series of passages 95 corresponding in number and position with the chuck heads, and each communicating with the vacuum chamber 92 through a slot 98 as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Each passage 95 is in communication with a corresponding passage 91 through the hub I4 of the carrier wheel, and each of these passages communicates at its outer end with a radial passage 98 formed on the inner face of a large plate or disc 99 fixedly secured by bolts or otherwise against the rear machined face of the wheel web I3. The outer end of each of the radial passages 98 communicates through a branch passage I8I formed in the carrier wheel with the interior of the tubular guide member 81 through ports I82. Communication is established with the interior of the hollow reciprocatory rod 88 from whence through a passage I83 in the head 85 and communicating longitudinal passage I84 in the hollow member 84 communication is established through the chuck head 83 with the interior of the can body 59. When, therefore, a can body is brought into of the carrier until the vacuum, is broken by establishing communication between the interior of the body and atmosphere, as willnow be explained. I

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, it will be observed that the cup-shaped member 81 is divided near port I81 flared at its lower end as shown in Fig. 4 and adapted to communicate with the slots 98 in the ring 93 as they are successively passed into registration therewith. It follows, therefore, that vacuum from the chamber 92 is applied through each chuck head to the can body in sealed relation therewith from the time the slot 98 first communicates with the chamber 92 after passing the web I until the carrier makes I practically a complete revolution and the slot is brought into communication with atmosphere through the port I81. The breaking of the vacuum on each chuck head for a limited period is utilized for the removal of the can body from the chuck head, and as soon as another body is brought into engagement therewith, the vacuum is again applied to maintain the sealed relation between the can body and thehead and to also enable the head to withdraw the body from its testing receptacle after the testing ofthe A hermetic joint between the member 81 and the opposed face of the ring 93 is maintained by'a plurality of expansion springs III interposed between the outer face of the member 81 and the opposed inner face of the hub of the spider 18, as will be apparent from Fig. 3.

When the incoming can bodies 59 reach the curved lower end of the chute 5i, they are spaced by the feed turret head 53 as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 and enter the successive sockets in the head by which they are carried upwardly into alignment with successive chuck heads 82 on the carrier Wheel. To assure the entrance of the bodies into their respective sockets in the feed turret 53 and at the same time to preclude injury to the bodies by jamming, the bodies are urged into their sockets by a flexible metal strap 88 (Fig. 1) secured at one end to the upper extremity. of the feed chute and attached at its other end to a rod 58 which is urged toward the right viewing Fig. '1 by a coiled expansion spring 88 so as to maintain a yielding tension on the strap 48.

The chuck heads 82, as they approach the feed turret, have been moved into the outer position shown in Fig. 8 by the rack 18 actingupon the successive pinions 15 as they pass the rack in the manner previously explained. As each can body is brought by the feed turret into longitudinal alignment with its respective chuck head, the body is moved longitudinally toward and into engagement with the head by a cam shaped plate II2 mounted at the right hand side, viewing Fig. 5, of the. feed turret head 53. Approximately at the tim'efthe open end of the .body is pushed against the opposed face of the chuck head, the particular groove 98 in the ring member 93 which is in communication with that chuck head, passes the cut-off web I85 and communicates with the vacuum chamber 92 so that vacuum is applied to that particular chuck head and to the interior *of' the can body engaging therewith to hold the p can against the head. The body therefore is at this point attached to its chuck head by suction and is carried forwardly and upwardly by the head away from the feed turret and in alignment with its respective testing receptacle. If for any reason a body should fail to become attached to its head, it will drop upon an inclined plate H3 (Figs. 7 and 5) by which it will be deflected away from the operating parts of the machine into a basket or other receptacle placed to receive it.

As the carrier wheel continues its rotation, the can bodies are successively attached to their respective chuck heads in the manner explained, and when a pinion reaches the stationary segmental rack 11, a half-revolution is imparted to the shaft 12 to thereby, through its crank 1i and link 69, move the two heads connected therewith simultaneously toward their respective testing receptacles M to thereby simultaneously introduce two can bodies into their testing receptacles. A hermetic seal between. the chuck head and its can body has already been established, as previously explained, and the movement of the head toward its receptacle is such that the head is also forced against the open end of the receptacle to establish a hermetic seal also between the edges of the receptacle and the rubber face 63 of the head. In order to insure the'establishment of this seal between the receptacle and the head, irrespective of whether or not all of the can bodies are exactly the same length, a false bottom or plate H4 is disposed in the bottom of each receptacle BI which is adapted to yield as the bottom of the can body is forced against it by reason .of the fact that the false bottom is urged away from the bottom of the receptacle by a coiled expansion spring H5, (Figs. 8, 9, and 10) The false bottom serves also as a controlling device for opening a valve H6 to admit air under pressure into the receptacle 6I around the can body. To this end the false bottom H4 is secured by a hollow screw I I1 to one end of a hollow valve stem H8 upon the other end of which is mounted the valve H6. This valve is adapted to seat against a valve seat I I9 formed in the carrying base of the receptacle 6I. The stem of the valve immediately beneath the valve proper is radially slotted as indicated at I2I so that communication is established between the interior of the stem and the space around the valve when the valve isopen and the fastening screw I I1, as well as the false bottom plate I I 4 are radially grooved, as indicated at I22 to permit the flow of air under pressure from the valve stem into the pressure space I23 around the can body.

Air pressure from the storage chamber in the standard 3 which has been delivered thereto by the compressor through the pipe 41, as previously explained, is delivered to all of the testing receptacles and their cooperating control devices in a manner which will now be explained, particular reference being had to Figs. 3 and 8 to 10 inelusive.

From the pressure chamber in the standard 3 the air under pressure is conducted through a pipe I24 to a supply and cut-off valve disc I25 provided with a supply recess or port I26 in communication with the pipe I24. This disc, which is non-rotatably mounted upon the inner end of the sleeve 1, is urged by a plurality of expansion springs I21 against the opposed face of a cooperating disc I28 attached by bolts I29 to the hub I4 of the carrier so as to rotate therewith. The disc I28 is provided with a series of angular passages I3I and I32, the receiving end of each of which is closed by the opposed face of, the disc I25 except when opposite the recess I26 through which air is supplied to these passages I3I and 632. The opposite ends of passages I3I and I32 communicate respectively with the small radially disposed pipes or conduits I33 and I34 leading to the control casings E35 near the perimeter of the carrier. The conduit I34 communicates through a suitable passage I36 formed in the wall of the casing I35 with the space at the outer end of the valve H6 and also, to a passage I31 with the interior of the casing at the outer end thereof. Conduit I133 communicates through a-suitable passage I38 with the pressure chamber I39 inside the casing.

The space within each casing I35 is divided by a flexible preferably thin metal diaphragm l4! into the pressure chamber I39 and the smaller pressure chamber I42, and normally the pressures in these chambers on both sides of the diaphragm I M entering from the conduits I34 and I33 are equal. To prevent undue fiexure and possible permanent distortion of the diaphragm I4I, should the pressure in chamber i 42 accidentally exceed that in I39, a perforated plate I43 is disposed against the inner face of the diaphragm, as best shown in Fig. 10. The head in each casing I35, which is recessed on its inner face to provide the chamber I42, is secured to the body of the casing by a plurality of bolts (not shown) passing through the head and threaded into tapped holes in the body. Gaskets I44 are disposed on opposite sides of the plate and diaphragm to insure against leakage at the joint.

The machine is so timed that a can body is fully introduced into its testing receptacle to open its valve H6 immediately prior to align ment of its passages I3l and I32 with the air supply recess I26 in the valve disc I25. When therefore, these passages come into registration with the supply recess or port I26, air under pressure is admitted through the passage I36 and valve stem I I8 into the pressure space I23 aroundthe can body, through the passage I31 into the pressure chamber I42 outside the diaphragm I and through the passage I38 into the central pressure chamber I39 at the inner face of diaphragm I4I. All of these chambers I23, I39 and I42 therefore are under the same air pressure. As the rotation of the carrier moves the passages I3I and I32 out of registration with the supply ,port I26, the outerends of these passages are sealed during further revolution of the carrier by the opposed face of the valve disc I25 so that the pressure in the three chambers, I23, I39 and I42 is maintained unless a leaky can bodybe disposed in the testing chamber, in which event the pressure will leak through to the interior of the body, thereby reducing the pressure in chambers I23 and I42 to set in operation the selector mechanism which will now be described.

Since chamber I39 is not in communication with chambers I23 and I42, a reduction in pressure in the latter two chambers as the result of a leaky can body will cause the diaphragm I to flex toward the right, viewing Fig. 10, under the influence of the pressure in chamber I39 which is then greater than the pressure in chamber I42. This fiexure of the diaphragm causes it to contact with the end of a contact pin I45 yieldingly projected by a coiled spring I46 from an adjustable contact post I41 adjustably mounted in an insulating sleeve I48 secured to the head of the casing I35 by a holding ring I49. A lock nut I5I holds the adjustable post I41 in adjusted position. Contact of the disc I4I with the pin I45 serves to close an electric circuit which sets in operation the selector mechanism by which the leaky can bodyis selected and later in the cycle of the machine separated from the good bodies and delivered from the machine through an independent faulty can delivery chute.

The selector mechanism by which the leaky bodies are selected and independently delivered is best illustrated in Figs. 13 to 23 inclusive. Referring first for a moment to Figs. 2, 10 and 15, it will be observed that a contact wiper I52 is mounted in position to be contacted by the end of the contact post I41 at one point in the revolution of the carrier, the wiper being located so that this contact is established just before or approximately at the time a body enters a socket of the delivery turret I53 (Figs. 4, 5, and '1) by which the bodies are delivered. In the electric circuit which includes the wiper I52, an electromagnet I54 is disposed, and whentthis magnet is energized, a cam shoe I55 mounted upon an arm I56 pivoted at I51 and carrying the armature I58 of the magnet is moved from the dotted line position shown in Fig. 19 in which it is normally held by the spring I59 into the full line position shown in that figure where it is disposed in-the path of aradially slidable pin I6I slidably mounted in a revolving drum I62.

Referring to Fig. 13, it will be observed that the' drum I62 is rotatably mounted upon a stationary sleeve I63 carried by the standard 2 and ,is connected by pins I64 with a cylindrical mem-- ber I65 fixed to rotate with the hollow shaft I66 carrying and driven by the gear I61 which in turn meshes with and is driven by the pinion 56 similarly to the gear 55. A sleeve I68 keyed to the inner end of shaft I66 carries the delivery turret I53 into which the can bodies are dropped from the carrier wheel when the suction chuck head is released in the manner previously explained. The relative location of the shaft I66 and associated parts with relation to the carrier is illustrated in Fig. 14, as well as in Fig. 4.

Rz-ferring now to Figs. 13 et seq., the pins I6I carried by the disc I62 are moved into theiroutermost position as the disc rotates in a. counterclockwise direction, viewing Figs. 17 and 18, by a. stationary cam I69 surrounding the hub Ill and held against rotation with the disc by an arm or bracket I12 surrounding the hub, attached at one end by bolts I13 to an arm I14 extending from the stationary bearing I15, carrying at its other end the electromagnet I54 and attached to the cam I69 by one or' more pins or screws I16. At each revolution of the'dr um I62, all of the pins 'are moved into their retracted position by the high portion of the cam I69 and remain in thisidle inoperative position unless they are projectedinwardly by the cam shoe I55, under the influence of the electromagnet I54 which takes place only in the .event of energization of the electromagnet as the result of a leaky can body, as previously explained. The pins I6I are frictionally held against accidental movement by small friction plungers I11, one for each pin, urged into frictional engagement with their respective pins by coiled expansion springs I18. The plungers and springs are disposed in sockets formed in the disc I62 and are held therein by an annular retaining plate I19 secured by screws or other fastening means to the face of the disc.

A roller I8I as shown in Figs. 16, 18 and 19 is mounted upon the lower end of a stub shaft I82 clamped in the head I83 of an arm I84 pivoted at I85 upon a bracket I86 secured to the stationary arm I14 and is normally urged into the path of an inwardly projecting pin I6I by acoiled exjecting rod I88, the tension on this spring being pansion spring I 81 surrounding a laterally proregulated by adjusting the lock nuts I89 (Fig. 16) When one of the pins I6I is projected inwardly as shown in Figs. 18 and 19, the engagement of this pin upon rotation of the drum I62 with the roller II will force said roller outwardly or to the right, viewing Fig. 23, against it will be observed that each valve stem I81 carries a valve I9I normally held against a seat I92 formed in the outer face of the drum I 65 by a coiled expansion spring I93 interposed between the outer face of the valve and an opposed face of a flange I94 carried by the sleeve I68 and secured to the drum I65 by a plurality of bolts I95. Each valve I9I is adapted to move in a chamber I96 which communicates through a longitudinal bore I91 in the sleeve I68 with a radial port I98 opening into a suction cup I99 of rubber or similar material mounted in the bottom of a socket of the delivery turret and adapted, when suction or partial vacuum is applied through the port I98 to the opposed curved perimeter of a cam body, to hold said body by suction to the turret ber 202 formed in the sleeve I63 around the hollow shaft I66. A plurality of ports 203 through the shaft I66 admit this vacuum to the interior of the shaft from which it is applied through ports 204 to an annular passage 205 (Figs. 13 and 20) in the drum I65. From this annular passage, thevacuum is applied to the inner face of the valves I9I through radial ports 206 communicating with annular valve chambers 201.

vWhen a valve I9I is moved to open position by the roller I8 I ,as previously explained, the valve is retained in this open position by a latch 208 pivotally mounted upon the outer end of the drum I65 by a pivot bolt 209, the inner end of the latch being urged radially inwardly by a spring 2 attached at one end to the tail of the latch and at its other end to a non-rotatable washer 2I0 (Fig. 21). Movement of the valve to open position permits the inner end of the latch to drop inwardly behind a shoulder 212 formed on-the valve stem whereby the valve is maintained in open position until by revolution of the drum I63 the tail of said latch is brought into engagement with a stationary trip pin 2I3 which releases the latch and permits the valve to close. The closing of the valve not only shuts off the application of vacuum to its respective suction cup I99, but also establishes communication between this cup and atmosphere through the stem of the valve I9I. Referring to Fig. 13, it will be observed that the stem I81 of each valve is provided with a longitudinal passage 2 I4 communicating through radial ports 2I5 with an air port 2 I6 opening to atmosphere. When a valve therefore moves to closed position, the previously established vacuum upon its suction cup is relieved through the passage 2M and the ports H5 and 2I6. The valve stem I81 also serves as a shutoff by closing the inner end of air port 2I6 when the valve is moved to open position.

When non-leaky bodies are being tested, there will be no pressure reduction in the testing cham ber I23, consequently no deflection of the diaphragm MI and no closure of the electric circuit including the wiper I52, the pin control cam I55 will remain in its inoperative position, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 19, no pin IGI will contact the roller I8I, no valve I9I will be opened, and consequently no suction will be applied to any cup I99.

When, however, a leaky can body results in a drop in pressure in the testing chamber I23 and consequently in the connected chamber I42, the

diaphragm will flex so as to make electrical contact with the contactpin M5, whereupon as the contact post I4? is moved across the stationary wiper I52, the electric circuit, including the electric magnet I54 will be energized to move the pin control cam I55 into the operative position shown in full lines in Fig. 19, whereby the next pin IGI contacting the cam will be moved radially inwardly to deflect the roller I8I and open a corresponding valve I9I. It should be noted at this point that the Wiper I52 is only in momentary contact with the post I41 and as soon as the contact is broken by movement of the 'post away from the wiper the pin control cam I55 will resume its normal inoperative position under the influence of the spring I59. Only one of the pins I6I will therefore be projected inwardly at each closure of the electric circuit. The closure of the electric circuit therefore causes a partial vacuum to be applied to that suction cup I99 which, as the result of the timing of the machine, isbrought into position to receive from the carrier that body in which the leak was detected. The manner in which the leaky cans are separated from the good cans and independently delivered from the machine will now be explained.

Referring particularly to Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 7, it will be observed that each can body is withdrawn from its testing receptacle GI by a semirevolution of its pinion I5 induced by the rack IT as shown in Fig. 3. While the rack IT has been shown in this figure, this showing is merely illustrative of the function of the rack, as it will be manifest from Fig. 11 particularly that a vertical sectional view does not in reality intersect the rack. This retraction of the can bodies from their testing receptacles takes place just before the bodies are successively brought into registration with the sockets of the delivery turret head I53. At about the time each can enters a socket I88 of this head, the vacuum on that chuck head 62 is broken through the air port I06, as previously explained, and the body settles into the socket and is supported upon the vacuum cup I99. If no vacuum be applied to this cup, the can is carried around and drops by gravity into' the lower good can delivery chute 2II. If a leaky body, however, is deposited in the socket, vacuum is applied to that suction cup I99 in the manner previously explained, and this suction will retain the body in the socket so that it will not drop out by gravity into the chute 2II with the good bodies, but will be carried around by the head until it is released therefrom by a pair'of curved stripper fingers 2! by which it will be caused to drop into the upper delivery chute 2I9 which, as

the good bodies. Practically simultaneously with the stripping of the body from the delivery turret head the vacuum on the suction cup I99 is relieved by the closure of the valve I as the result of the engagement of the tail of the controlling latch 208 with the stationary release pin 2I3. It will be apparent from the foregoing that the leaky bodies are automatically selected and delivered from the machine separately from the good bodies, While the machine is in continuous operation at a very high speed. thi's machine being adapted to test bodies at the rate of three hundred per minute.

In order that the feed turret head 53 may be angularly adjusted to dispose the feed pockets in proper timed relation with respect to the chuck heads by which the can bodies are removed from the turret, the gear 55 which drives the shaft 54 is angularly adjustable relatively to the shaft. Viewing Fig. 22, it will be observed that a hub 22I is keyed to the shaft 54 and the gear 55 which slips over this hub is provided with an annular ring 222 having arcuate slots or a plurality of arcuately arranged holes to receive the bolts 223 by which the ring and consequently the gear is secured to the hub in adjusted position. The gear I6! which drives the delivery turret head may be similarly adjustably mounted upon its shaft I 66.

The construction of the machine having been described in detail, a brief' statement of the cycle of operations follows:

The can bodies roll by gravity to the lower end of the feed chute 5| where they are picked up by the feed delivery turret 53 and carried into alignment with the successive chuck heads 62 which are. in retracted position, as shown in Fig. 3. The stationary cam I I2 moves each body 1ongitudinally into engagement with the chuck head to which it becomes attached, by reason of the partial vacuum exerted through the center of the chuck head.

The bodies are carried by their respective chuck heads upwardly away from the feed turret and are then introduced in pairs into their respective aligned testing receptacles 6 I. When the bodies have been positioned within their respective receptacles, air pressure is applied to the exterior of each body in the testing chamber I23, which is of relatively small volume, so that a slight leak in the body will produce a material pressure reduction in a relatively short time. Should no leak be detected in a body, it will be carried around by the carrier, withdrawn from its testing receptacle by the chuck head (the bodies are withdrawn in pairs as well as being inserted into their receptacles in pairs) deposited in a socket of the delivery turret, and finally discharged through the good can delivery chute 2I'I.

Should, however, a leak be present in a body, the resultant pressure reduction in the surrounding testing chamber will, by deflection of the diaphragm MI, close an electric circuit which, through the cam I55, will project a corresponding pin I GI inwardly so that it will engage and actuate the roller I 8| to thereby open the cor responding vacuum valve I9I which permits the application of suction to the suction cup I99 in that socket of the delivery turret in which the leaky can is deposited from the carrier. This suction of the cup I99 will hold the leaky body to the turret so that it will be carried upwardly above the good can chute ZI'I and will be stripped from the turret by the fingers 2IB and delivered bodies are discharged therefrom,

by the leaky can chute to a destination separate from the good bodies.

Th'e leaky bodies are therefore automatically and accurately selected during their travel with the carrier and are automatically separated from the good bodies so that no manual operation whatsoever is required during the testing-opera.- tion. The machine is accurateiandreliable and operates at extremely-high speedsjso, that the cost of testing is reduced to a f While I haveshown' anddescribedla preferred attached by said suction, means for actuating said chuck heads in pairs to simultaneously introduce a plurality of said bodies into their respective receptacles, each chuck" head.. s1erving to seal its-cooperating receptacle whereby a testing chamber surrounding each can body is produced, means for producing a pressure in each testing chamher for a short interval and for thereafter cutting. off said pressure, means actuated by a reductionin pressure in said chamber resulting from a leak in a bodyfor detecting such leaks, and

means controlled by said last mentioned means for separating the leaky bodies from and delivering the same independently of the good bodies.

2. In-a can body testing machine, the combination of a carrier, a series of testing receptacles carried thereby, means for positioning can bodies to be tested in said receptacles, means for imposing a pressure in each receptacle around the body therein, leak detecting means including an electric circuit and a diaphragm subjected to the receptacle pressure and adapted to beactuated upon reduction of pressure in any receptacle to close said'electric circuit, a delivery turret head provided with pockets adapted to receive the can bodies from said carrier, and means controlled by said electric circuit for causing leaky bodies to be carried by said turret to a point remote from the point of delivery of the good bodies therefrom.

3. In a can body testin \machine, the oombination of a carrier provide with a series of testing receptacles for the reception of can bodies to be tested, means on the carrier for detecting leaky bodies in said receptacles, a delivery turret provided with pockets adapted to receive the can bodies from said carrier, means controlled means for causing said leaky to said turret while the good and means for from the turret and bodies to adhere removing said leaky bodies I causing them to be delivered separately from the good bodies. v

4. In a can body testing machine, the combination of a rotatable carrier, a series of testing receptacles mounted thereon, a chuck head in alignment with-each receptacle andreciprocable toward and from its receptacle, means for positioning the can bodies in alignment with the respec-' tive receptacles, means for moving eachvof said bodies longitudinally into tacles, a revolving turret provided with engagement with itsbodies to permit their deposit in said turret, and

means controlled by said detecting means for causing the delivery of the leaky bodies separately from the good bodies.

5. In a can body testing machine, the combination of a carrier, means for supporting a plurality of can bodies on said carrier, means for applying a negative pressure to the interior of each body, means for applying a positive pressure to the exteriorof each body, an electric circuit, means actuated by a reduction in pressure around any body resulting from a leak in said body for closing said circuit and pneumatic means controlled by the circuit including said contact for causing the leaky cans to lee-delivered from the machines separately from the good cans.

6. In a can body testing machine, the combination of a rotatable carrier provided with can body testing receptacles, means for feeding the can bodies into alignment with said receptaclesr a chuck head for, closing each receptacle, means for moving the, aligned can bodies into engagement with their respective chuck heads, means for applying a partial vacuum through each chuck head upon its engaged can body, means for moving said chuck heads in pairs to simultaneously introduce the bodies carried thereby into their respective receptacles, means for applying a pres,- sure tothe interior of each receptacle around the can body therein, means for holding said pressure during a partial revolution of the carrier, means including a pair of pressure chambers and an interposed flexible diaphragm for detecting a leakin any of said bodies, means for actuating said chuck-heads in pairs to simultaneously withdraw a plurality ofsaid bodies from their receppockets adapted to receive the withdrawn bodies, pneumatic means associated with said turret for hold ing can bodies to said turret, means actuated by said detecting means for controlling said pneumatic means so as to cause the delivery of leaky and good can bodies separately from the machine.

7. In a canbody testing machine, a wheel provided with a plurality of testing receptatcles, means. for inserting a plurality of can bodies simultaneously into a plurality of said receptacles, means for testing said bodies, for leaks while in said receptacles, means for withdrawing the can bodies a plurality at a time from the receptacles, and means for thereafter segregating leaky and non-leaky bodies one at a time successively.

in said can body and means for temporarily conlining during testing of the can body the air which contacts with the outside of the can body within the receptacle, and means actuated by a &

change in pressure of said confined air during said testing for detecting leaky can bodies.

9. A can body testing machine including a testing receptacle having a body only slightly larger than that of the can body to be tested therein, means including a resiliently surfaced apertured plate for gripping a can body by suction and introducing its closed end first into said receptacle, means for sealing the open end of the can and the open end of the receptacle, a resiliently mounted member in the closed end of the receptacle for yieldingly holding the can body against said plate, means for producinga pressure differential between the interior of the can body and the space in the receptacle surrounding it, and means controlled by a variation in said pressure differential for detecting a leak in said body.

10. A can body testing machine including a testing receptacle, means including a resiliently surfaced apertured plate for gripping by'suction a can body by its open end and inserting it into said receptacle and for sealing said receptacle after insertion of the can body, means in the inner endof the receptacle for resiliently urging the can body against said plate, means for producing a pressure differential between the can body interior and the space in the receptacle surrounding it, and means controlled by a variation in said pressure difierential for detecting a leak in said body.

11. A can body testing machine including a testing receptacle, means including a resiliently surfaced apertured plate for gripping by suction a can body by its open end and inserting it into said receptacle and for sealing said receptacle after insertion of the can body, a resiliently mounted member at the inner end of said receptacle for urging said can body against said ing a leak in-said body.

12. A can body testing machine comprising a testing wheel mounted on a horizontal axis, and having a plurality bf horizontally extending dry testing receptacles, means for delivering can bodies horizontally disposed into proximity with said wheel, means including a resiliently surfaced plate for gripping the open ends of the can bodies by suction and inserting them into said receptacles and for sealing the receptacles after said insertion, means for urging said can bodies against their respective plates, means for producing a pressure differential between the interior of each said can bodies and the space in the receptacle surrounding it, and means controlled by a variation in said pressure differential for detecting a leak in said body.

13. A can body testing machine comprising a testing wheel carrying a plurality of testing receptacles, a reciprocatory hollow tube and means for reciprocating it, a chuck head carried by said tube having a resiliently surfaced apertured face, means for applying suction through said tube and head and through the aperture in said face to grip the open end of can bodies by suction for inserting them into said receptacles, said face serving to seal the open end of the receptacle, means for producing a pressure differential between the interior of said can body and the space surrounding it in said receptacle, and means actuated by variation in said differential for detecting a leak in a can body.

14. In a can testing machine, a rotatable testing wheel provided with a plurality of testing receptacles, means for inserting the cans into and withdrawing them from said receptacles including resiliently surfaced plates adapted to abut the open ends of the cans and having apertures therethrough, means for reciprocating said plates toward and from the receptacles, and means for exerting suction on the can interiors through said apertures at certain positions of said wheel during said insertion or withdrawal of the cans.

15. In a can testing machine, a rotatable testing wheel carrying a plurality of receptacles, means mounted for reciprocatory movement on said wheel for gripping the open ends of cans by suction and inserting them into and withdrawing them from said receptacles, the last said means including hollow slidable tubes connected to and supporting resiliently surfaced apertured plates, means for exerting suction through said tubes and apertures to the face of said plate during insertion and withdrawal of said cans, and means actuated in accordance with rotative positions of said wheel for selectively initiating and cutting off the suction at said apertures.

16. A can body testing machine comprising means for carrying a plurality of can bodies to be tested, means for detecting leaky bodies and means for separating the leaky bodies from the good bodies, including a rotary element equipped with suction devices movable in succession into cooperativerelation with successive bodies delivered from said detecting means and means for controlling the application of suction to said devices in accordance with the determinations of said detecting means.

17. A can body testing machine comprising a carrier upon which the bodies are tested, means for detecting leaky bodies and means for deliver ing the tested bodies from the carrier, including means controlled by said detecting means for applying suction to the leaky bodies only whereby the leaky bodies are separated from the'good bodies.

18. A can body testing machine including a testing receptacle having an interior only slightly larger than that of the can body to be tested therein, means for introducing a body to be tested into said receptacle, means for sealing the open end of said body and the .open end of. said receptacle, means for producing a pressure differential between the interior of the can body'and the space in'the receptacle surrounding said body, means controlled by a, variation in pressure in said receptacle for detecting a leak in said body and separating means including body receiving sockets provided with suction cups controlled by said leak detecting means for effecting a separation between the good and leaky bodies by applying suction to the bodies of one class only.

19. A can body testing machine comprising a testing chamber only slightly larger than the can body to be tested therein, means including a suction head for inserting a can body into said chamber closed end first and sealing it therein including means for gripping the can body by suction prior to insertion and maintainingthe suction thereon after insertion, leak det ecting mechanism responsive to pressure changes in 'the sealed spacein the chamber surrounding said body, and means for actuating said head to effect the insertion and withdrawal of can bodies into and from said chamber.

.sure caused by leakage of the compressed air through leaky can bodies, and means controlled by said leak detecting mechanism for separating the leaky from the good can bodies by suction.

21. In a can body testing machine, a plurality of testing receptacles, means including a movable suction headflfor gripping can bodies, and

meansfor moving said head to insert cans into said receptacles and for withdrawing them therefrom after a .test, said suction head means conbodies contiguous thereto, and means for actuating said heads to position the bodies within the receptacles and to withdraw them'therefrom, the

suction application to the bodies being continuous from prior to'their introduction into the receptacles to subsequently to their removal therefrom.

23. In a can body testing machine, a plurality of testing receptacles, a.suction head for each receptacle, means for moving said heads toward and from their respective receptacles, and means for applying suction through said heads to the interiors of contiguous can bodies whereby said bodies are attached to the heads for introduction into and removal from said receptacles by the heads.

24. In a can body testing machine, a revolving wheel provided with a plurality oi! testing receptacles, means for delivering can bodies into proximity to said wheel, a movable suction head aligned with each receptacle for gripping the can bodies successively by suction, and means-for moving said heads to eifect the simultaneous insertion of a plurality of can bodies into their respective receptacles:

25. In a can body testing machine adapted to test a plurality of can bodies simultaneously, means for detecting leaky bodies, a discharge chute for good can bodies, a separate chute for leaky bodies, and means controlled by said leak detecting means for gripping a surface of each leaky can body only by suction to eflect the separation of the leaky can bodies from the good can bodies.

26. In a can body testing machine, a carrier for can bodies to be tested, means for detecting leaky bodies on the carrier, and means for separating the leaky bodies from the good bodies, said separating means including a delivery device into cooperative relation with which the bodies are brought in succession by the carrier, and suction means controlled by said detecting means so as to apply suction to those bodies only on the delivery device designated by said detecting means whereby the designated bodies are separated from the undesignated bodies.

27. In a can body testing machine, the combination of means for detecting leaky bodies, a

delivery device provided with body receiving sockets, a suction cup associated with each socket,

and means controlled by said leak detecting 1 means for applying suction to those sockets only designated by the detecting means whereby the leaky bodies are separated from the good bodies,

28. In a can body testing machine, the combination of means for detecting leaky bodies, separate discharge chutes for good and leaky bodies respectively, suction cups into cooperative relation with which the tested bodies are delivered in succession, and means controlled by said leak detecting means for applying suction to those cups only designated by the detecting means whereby the bodies designated by the detecting means are delivered by the suction cups into one of said chutes and the remaining bodies uninfluenced by suction are delivered into the other chute.

29. In a can body testing machine, a plurality of testing receptacles, a reciprocable sealing head for each receptacle, means for producing through each head a suction upon the interior of a contiguous can, means for moving the heads successivelyinto engagement with their respective receptacles to insert a can thereinto and seal the receptacle around the can, and means for moving said heads away from their respective receptacles after the test to withdraw the cans therefrom. 4 i

30. In a can testing machine, a series of testing receptacles, a reciprocatory head in alignment with each receptacle, means for presenting the open ends of can bodies to be tested into proximity to said heads, means for applying suction through said heads to the interiors of said bodies whereby the bodies are secured to the heads, mechanism for actuating said heads in predetermined sequence to position the bodies within the receptacles and seal the receptacles and to subsequently withdraw the bodies from the receptacles, means for detecting leaky bodies sealed in said receptacles, a delivery device provided with sockets for the reception of tested bodies, and means controlled by said leak detecting means for separating the good type of bodies from the had type by holding one type in said sockets and permitting the other type to lie loosely thereon.

' WILLIAM GAMER-0N2. 

